We ended up getting 4-5 inches (10-13 cm) of snow in the storm that concluded yesterday. That may not sound like a lot of snow, but it was enough for the federal government and all of the school districts in the Washington D.C. area to be closed for the day. The roads were icy in my neighborhood, so I played it safe and did not venture out in my car at all.
However, I did go for a walk in my townhouse community in search of birds. It felt a little strange to be carrying a long telephoto zoom lens in such a heavily populated area and I alternately between feeling like a Peeping Tom and a member of the paparazzi.
I was happy to find a few birds in a strip of woods in our community, including this Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis). It was initially foraging on the ground when I spotted it, as you can see in the first photo, and then flew into some trees when I took a few steps closer.
It is sunny out today and the roads are mostly clear, but that is a bit deceptive, because the temperature was only 14 degrees (-10 degrees C), the last time I checked. Yikes! I have not reviewed all of my photos from yesterday, so I probably will stay inside and finish that review, rather than venture out with my camera today.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 